Portable ironing board



Oct. 1955 H. E. SUTHERLAND PORTABLE IRONING BOARD 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 10, 1953 JNVENTOR. HAZEL E. SUTHERLAA/D WM ATTORNEY L 5, 1955 H. E. SUTHERLAND 2,721,407 I PORTABLE IRONING BOARD 2 Sheets-Shea t 2 Filed Aug. 10, 1953 m ML mm VH W 5 E L E M H A r TOR/V5 Y United States Patent Office 2,721,407 Patented Oct. 25, 1955 PORTABLE IRONIN G BOARD Hazel E. Sutherland, Denver, Colo.

Application August 10, 1953, Serial No. 373,213 6 Claims. 01. 33-417 This invention relates to ironing boards and more particularly to an ironing board which can be folded up to reduced dimensions for storage or transportation.

One of the objects of the invention is to produce a foldable type of ironing board which, when set up for use, can be supported on the floor and have a customary height and full ironing surface, yet can be folded into a small unit approximating that of a small traveling bag.

Another object of my invention is to produce a foldable ironing board of the type above indicated which can be constructed of light material, yet will be extremely sturdy when set up for use.

Yet another object is to produce the foldable type of ironing board referred to which can have its ironing platform readily varied as to height when set up for ironing purposes.

A further object is to produce an ironing board of the foldable type which will embody telescoping members for all the support members, such as legs and braces, so that a strong and light structure can be obtained, yet all these members can be easily and quickly reduced in length to enable the establishment of a compact folded-up unit.

A still further object is to so construct a foldable ironing board that the ironing platform thereof can be folded up to produce a box-like container in which the leg and brace members, when conditioned to reduced dimensions, can be received and protected.

Other objects of my invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings showing, by way of example only, a preferred embodiment.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side view of the ironing board set up for use;

Figure 2 is a top view of the ironing board;

Figure 3 is a detail view, partly in section, showing the interengagement of the brace with the single forward extending leg;

Figures 4 and 5 are cross sectional views taken, respectively, on the lines 44 and 55 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a bottom view of the board showing the legs and brace member telescoped and attached to the bottom of the ironing surface during fold-up operations;

Figure 7 is a side view of a part of one rear leg showing an enlargement of the locking structure used between all telescoping sections of legs and brace;

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8--8 of Figure 7; and

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the ironing board in its fully folded up condition.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the ironing board construction, illustrated by way of example as embodying my invention, has an ironing platform P composed of three sections, a forward section 10, a somewhat similar rear section 11 and a short central section 12. Both the forward and rear sections are hinged by suitable hinge pin structures 13 and 14 to the central section and have a similar top contour, being somewhat pointed and curved at their free ends, as shown, to thus facilitate easy ironing, as is common design. The forward section 10 has a narrow peripheral flange 15 and the rear section 11 also has a peripheral flange 16 which is approximately twice the width of the forward section flange 15. The central section 12 is a flat sheet, but in order to give it additional support and strength there are provided two flaps or plates 17 and 18 at the sides thereof. These plates are hinged by hinge pins 19 and 20 to the ends of flange 16 of the rear section 11 so they can be folded into an overlapping crosswise position when the ironing board is to be folded up. In order to hold these flaps or plates out in their supporting positions, the inside surfaces of the ends of the flange 15 on the forward section have pivoted latches 21, as clearly illustrated in Figure 5. Each of these latches cooperate with a stop pin 22 on the inside surfaces of the flaps or plates.

At the rear end of the rear section and on the bottom there are pivoted two diverging rear legs R of like construction and a forwardly extending leg F. Each of these legs is pivoted to a single pivot shaft 23 journaled in suitable brackets 24 variously secured tothe flange 16 and the bottom part of the rear section. The diverging legs. R have the forward leg F arranged therebetween.

Each rear leg R is constructed of three telescoping tubular sections 25, 26 and 27. The upper sections 25 of the two legs are secured together by a suitable brace plate 28 and the lower sections have laterally extending feet 29 to give a more firm rest on the floor. When the rear legs are positioned for using the board, they will angle slightly rearwardly as shown in Figures 1 and 4. To give these legs a good bracing, the upper ends have projecting pins 39 which will engage with cross rods 31 carried by brackets 24, all best shown in Figure 4. The legs also can, if desired, obtain some support against the flange 16.

The forward leg F is formed of four telescoping tubular sections 32, 33, 34 and 35, the latter having a T-shaped foot for firm engagement with the floor. This forward leg is arranged to have cooperating therewith a brace B to receive the downward forces on the ironing platform, particularly the forward end thereof. The brace has two telescoping sections 37 and 38, with the upper section 37 being pivoted to a shaft 39 secured to a bracket 40 suitably attached to the under part of the forward section of the platform, all as illustrated in Figure 5. This section 37 also carries a stop and brace pin 41 engageable with a cross rod 42 carried by bracket 40. The brace 'B is detachably connected by its lower section 38 to the section 33 of the leg F, all as illustrated in Figure 3. Section 38 carries a pin extension 43 fitting into a hole 44 in the section 33 of leg F. The pin has a notch 45 to receive a lip 46 at the lower edge of the hole and thus permit easy disconnection of brace B from the leg if the ironing board should be lifted up by grasping the platform sections.

All the telescoping tubular sections of the legs and the brace are arranged to be held in their extended operative position to support the top sections during ironing by a suitable locking device L which is illustrated in Figure 7 between sections 26 and 27 of one rear leg R. This locking means also permits adjustment between the telescoping sections so that the height of the ironing surface above the floor can be adjusted in a desirable manner. As shown, the end of section 26 carries, in a frictional manner, a surrounding split band 47. One end of this band has an outwardly extending actuating end 48 and the other end has an inwardly extending curved locking part 49 forprojecting into holes in the two telescoping sections to prevent their relative longitudinal movement. As shown, section 26 has a hole 50 and section 27 has various holes 51 and 52, for example. Thus, if holes 50 and 51 are aligned and thelocking member is rotated on the section 26 so its locking end 49 can enter both holes, the sections will be locked together in extended positions. If adjustment is desired, .as for height of the board above the fioor, the other hole 52 can be aligned with the hole 50 and the locking end caused to be inserted. Any number of'holes, such as 51 and 52, can be provided if more height adjustments are desired.

As illustrated in Figure 6, all the legs and the brace are of such length that when the sections thereof are telescoped together to produce a shortened condition of these members they will fit under the forward and rear sections of the platform. All the legs will be beneath the rear section where they can be held by U-shaped spring clips 53, 54 and 55. The brace will fit beneath the forward section and be held by a U-shaped spring clip 56.

From the foregoing description it is believed to be obvious how my improved ironing board can be set up for ironing use or folded up into a compact box-like unit of a size similar to a traveling bag, which condition is illustrated in Figure 9. Consider the board set up as shown in Figures 1 to 5, where it is a sturdy ironing board, and it is desired to fold the board up. All the locks L will first be released by merely rotating the bands 47 to move the locking ends out of aligning holes. This will permit the tubular sections of the legs and brace to be telescoped into their shortest lengths. The legs and brace are then of a length to fit beneath the forward and rear sections of the platforms where they can be swung and held by the spring clips. Before folding up the rear legs, the feet 29 are first turned inwardly to positions shown in Figure 6 where all the legs and the brace are shown in telescoped condition and clamped beneath the forward and rear sections of the platform. It will be noted that the brace B can be easily disengaged from leg F by pushing upwardly and rearwardly thereon to disengage the notch of pin 43 from the lip 46 at the hole edge.

After the legs and brace are positioned as shown in Figure 6, the twoflaps or plates 17 and 18 of the center section 12 of the platform may be released by manipulating the latches 21 and so that they may then be folded back in line with hinge 14. The forward and rear sections can then be swung about the central section and theboard closed into the box-like unit shown in Figure 9. To hold the forward and rear sections together, a spring catch 57 is carried by the flange 16 of the rear section (seeFigure 4) to engage in a suitable hole 58 in the front section (see Figure 1). With the board folded up it will be noted that there is a complete closure provided on all sides. 16 of the rear section twice the width of the front section and the central section equal to the widths of both flanges since this central section, when the board is folded up, forms one end of the box-like unit and the flanges form the sides and other rounded end thereof. If desired to complete the unit for traveling use, a suitable cover with zipper and handle can be constructed into which the unit can be placed for easy carrying and neat appearance. If no cover is desired, a handle can be provided directly on the flange 16, for example.

I am aware that modifications in structure can be made without departing from the fundamental principles of my invention and I therefore desire it to be understood that-the scope of my invention is not to be limited except in accordance with the terms of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. -In a portable ironing board, an ironing platform comprising two end sections of like lengths and a short central section hinged together, at least three legs all pivotallysecured to the end of one of the end sections, two of said legs being capable of extending downwardly and outwardly and the third leg being capable of extending downwardly and'forwardly to a point below the other end This occurs from having the flange section, a brace pivoted to and ,extendingfromthe said other end section adjacent the short central section and detachably connected to the third leg intermediate its ends, each of said legs being constructed of telescoping tubes to permit their lengths to be shortened so that when swung forwardly they can fit below the platform section to which they are pivoted, and-said brace also being constructed of telescoping tubes to permit its length to be shortened so that when swung forwardly it can fit beneath the section to which it is pivoted whereby upon swinging of the platform sections together in a parallel relation a compact unit will be created not greater than the length of the end sections and the legs and brace will be interposed between the said end sections.

2. The portable ironing board of claim 1 in which both end sections are provided with flanges of such width as to totally enclose the legs and brace when the end sections are folded into parallel relation.

3. In a portable ironing board, an ironingplatform comprising end sections-so hinged together that the sections can be folded upon each other and assume parallel relation with an unobstructed space therebetween, at least three legs all being pivotally secured to the end of the rear end section, two of said legs being capable of extending downwardly and rearwardly and the third leg being capable of extending downwardly and forwardly to a point below the forward end section, a vbrace pivoted to and extending from the said other end section close to the hinge means and being detachably connected to the third leg intermediate ;its ends, each of said legs being constructed in a manner that their lengths can be shortened so that when swung forwardly they can fit below the single platform section only to which they are pivoted, and said brace being constructed in a manner that its length can be shortened so that when swung forwardly it can fit beneath the section to which it is'pivoted whereby upon swinging of the platform sections together into parallel relation a compact unit will be created and the legs and brace will be interposed between the sections, the brace being constructed of tubular portions connected in telescoping fashion, and means for holding the tubular portions in extended condition when the brace cooperates with the forwardly extending leg.

4. In a portable ironing board, an ironing platform comprising end sections so hinged together that the sections can be folded upon each other and assume parallel relation with an unobstructed space therebetween, at least three legs all being pivotally secured to the end of the rear end section, two of said legs being capable of extending downwardly and rearwardly and the third leg being capable of extending downwardly and forwardly to a point below the forward end section, a brace pivoted to and extending from the said other end section close to the hinge means and being detachably connected to the third leg intermediate its ends, each of said legs being constructed in a manner that their lengths can be shortened so that whenswung forwardly they can fit below the single platform section only to which they are pivoted, and said brace being constructed in a manner that its length can be shortened so that when swung forwardly it can fit beneath the section to which it is pivoted whereby upon swinging of the platform sections together into parallel relation a compact unit will be created and the legs and brace will be interposed between the sections, the rear legs and the third leg being constructed of tubular portions connected in telescoping fashion and means for holding the tubular portions in extended condition when the ironinf board is to be used, the brace also being constructed of tubular portions connected in telescoping fashion, and means for holding the brace tubular portions in extended condition when the brace cooperates with the forwardly extending leg.

5. The portable ironing board of claim 4 in which the lower tubular portions of the two rear legs are provided with lateral feet and the holding means can be conditioned to permit these feet to be turned outwardly and inwardly.

6. The portable ironing board of claim 4 in which the sections of the platform are provided with spring clips to hold the legs and brace thereto when such members are shortened and moved to positions beneath the sections.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 6 French July 2, 1907 Evans Jan. 26, 1926 Gilbert May 17, 1927 Kanclerz July 11, 1933 Harris Nov. 9, 1943 Memer Nov. 28, 1950 Johannsen Mar. 20, 1951 Cater Apr. 22, 1952 Smith Nov. 11, 1952 Mendelson Dec. 23, 1952 Wood Sept. 15, 1953 Toth Apr. 20, 1954 Healy et a1 Aug. 10, 1954 

